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Borbon back in lineup against righty

Borbon back in lineup against righty

ARLINGTON -- Rangers center fielder Julio Borbon was back in the lineup Saturday after receiving back-to-back days off with the team facing left-handed pitchers.

But beginning Saturday against the Cubs, the Rangers have a stretch of seven consecutive games where they'll face right-handed pitchers, something that may prove beneficial to Borbon.

"We'll see how he does. We still have a lot of confidence in him," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "It'll give him a chance to get some multiple games in. He'll get most of them."

With Borbon struggling against lefties this season -- he's 3-for-27 (.111) with three RBIs -- Washington elected to sit him in the Baltimore finale and the Chicago opener against left-handers Brian Matusz and Ted Lilly.

"Whether I've had one or two days, I don't like focusing on, 'I haven't played in one or two games,'" Borbon said. "I'd rather see it as something positive. That's the way you've got to look at it."
But Washington insists that Borbon isn't in any danger of losing his position on the team, regardless of his performance so far this season against left-handed pitching.

"He doesn't need to look over his shoulder. He just needs to hit," Washington said. "I'm certainly not thinking about calling him into my office. The guy can play."

Borbon just wants to go out and continue to do what he's been able to do his last few times out. He's 12-for-39 (.308) in his last 12 games, raising his overall batting average by nearly 40 points, from .188 to .227.
"There's really no telling what the plan is for me as far as those seven games coming up," Borbon said. "But my goal is to go out there and have fun and just keep playing ball, do what I've been able to do the last few games. Go out there and run around and score some runs."